Thai Tourism Minister makes maiden visit to India

Her Excellency Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Minister for Tourism & Sports, Thailand is in Mumbai to promote tourism and trade between India and Thailand

Mumbai, 25 February 2015: India is one of Thailand most significant markets, standing at rank 1 in South Asia and rank 6 globally. In order to maintain and increase loyalty from travel agents consequently notch up tourist numbers, Her Excellency Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Minister for Tourism & Sports, Thailand is in India to engage travel agents, trade leaders and media in dialogue. Organised by the Thai Ministry of Commerce, in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand – Mumbai Office and the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Mumbai, her visit, titled the Thai Trade Investment and Tourism Roadshow will take place on 25 February 2015.

The Minister will also officially launch the Discover Thainess campaign in India. 2015 has been earmarked The Year of Thainess by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in January this year and promotions are underway. The Minister’s visit to India is aimed at lending wings to the new tagline and corresponding strategy in the high-potential/ high-delivery Indian market. She will also announce and elaborate on the campaign’s various facets – its goals, how it is expected to pan out, expected results, partnerships it will entail and the promotional tools integral to it.

Ms Soraya Homchuen, director, Tourism Authority of Thailand – Mumbai Office says, “We are looking forward to the Minister’s visit, which is aimed at underscoring the importance of the Indian market to Thailand. We expect that her official stamp to the Discover Thainess campaign will add steam to our efforts to promote authentic Thai experiences in India through creative means that we will employ in the months ahead.” She will also touch upon celebrity engagements key to propagating Thainess to Indian tourists.

India saw nearly a million tourists during 2014, which many tourism experts and speculators say is a great achievement. The Minister will reveal 2015’s target on her visit but speculation is that the target is likely to be very ambitious, with a double digit increase over 2014. India is among Thailand’s top markets alongside China, Malaysia, Russia, Japan and Korea all of which contribute a million arrivals to Thailand’s incoming tourist numbers annually.

Thailand is appreciated across tourism stakeholders in India – media, travelers and trade. Standing testimony to this the destination won six Indian tourism awards; such as: Most Influential Person in the Travel Industry 2014 (OTM) awarded by NDTV Profit, Best Wedding Destination by the International Tourism Conclave & Travel, Best Destination by Travel & Leisure India, Best International Tourism Board by DDP Publication, Best Spa Destination by Hospitality India and Best Value Destination by Lonely Planet – this one for the third time in a row.

Indian leisure travellers initially chose Bangkok and Pattaya only but with a large chunk (about 60%) consisting of repeat visitors, popularity for Phuket, Chiang Mai, Samui, Chiang Rai, Krabi and Ayutthaya is brimming. The more experienced travellers are also heading to Kanchanaburi, Rayong, Ko Tao and Ko Chang. Shopping, sightseeing and nightlife for at least one day in Bangkok are integral to all itineraries but for the rest of the vacation, Indians – particularly those who are returning after countless prior vacations – are looking for something unique and this is where Thainess will meet market aspirations.

Other encouraging trends include a marked rise in the number of Indian film-makers, MICE, destination weddings, honeymooners, seniors and special interest groups like golfers, divers and bikers; increasing average length of stay and average spend and a shift in market mix in favor of FIT and higher yield travelers.